J-K Assembly to discuss tomorrow V K Singh's charges

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly will discuss tomorrow the allegations levelled by former Army Chief General (Retd) V K Singh that politicians in the state were paid money by army to get certain jobs done.

As soon as the House met for the day, Opposition PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti sought to know from Speaker Mubarak Gul when the discussion on the allegations levelled by Gen Singh will he held.

"Our image has been maligned by his (Singh) allegations. I want to know when you are going to conduct the discussion," Mehbooba said.

She said National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah had reportedly said that Omar Abdullah before becoming the Chief Minister had a gun pointed at him by an army personnel.

"He also claimed that army had influenced the elections. This needs to be discussed," she added.

Gul said a discussion on the allegations levelled by the former army chief will be held tomorrow.

"There is a motion moved by PDP, a resolution by M Y Tarigami to condemn the statement (of Gen Singh)...other members also want to discuss it. A discussion will be held tomorrow," the Speaker said.

A report in a national English daily last month claimed that a secret army intelligence unit, set up during Gen Singh's tenure as Chief of Army Staff, paid money to a Jammu and Kashmir minister to topple the Omar Abdullah-led government in 2010.

Gen Singh has rejected the allegations that money was paid to topple the government of the day and later clarified that funds had been given to many ministers in the state right since Independence to get certain jobs done.

Ruling National Conference has demanded a CBI inquiry into the allegations. The ministers of the ruling party have also moved a privilege motion against the former army chief, which is pending before the Speaker for a ruling.